Inverse transient analysis in pipe networks for leakage detection, quantification and roughness calibration

 

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Introduction
 

This project was funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)  under the the Water Infrastructure and Treatment Engineering (WITE) programme
 

Leakage in water supply networks has received significant media attention in the UK over the last three years due to the intensity of the drought that started in June, 1995. This culminated in government action forcing mandatory leakage targets on the water-operating companies. These targets are imposed via the Regulator, with significant implications if not achieved, either by a fine or, in the extreme case, the loss of a license to operate. Furthermore the United Kingdom is one of the oldest industrialised nations that developed its water distribution infrastructure generations ago. With the passage of time distribution systems age and deteriorate resulting in high leakage levels and burst frequency.

The present Water Infrastructure and Treatment Engineering (WITE) programme addresses medium and long term strategic research priorities of the water utilities. Currently, the UK water industry (through UKWIR) is providing support to the present WITE research programme carried out at Imperial College (IC, project 1: Management of Uncertainties and Data Accuracy for Monitoring and Burst Detection in Water Networks) and to the research carried out at Exeter University (EU, project 2: Whole Life Costing Approach to Distribution Network Management). In consultations with UKWIR during the Workshop organised for the approval of the existing programme, it had been agreed that the next phase of the WITE programme should include aspects of advanced leakage detection and quantification, in which UK water companies have a strong interest. The programme of the new project proposed here is designed so that it covers the topics that were excluded from the previous projects in order to allow for a gradual development of problem solving methodology. It is thus seen as an “added value" to the ongoing programmes. The advantage of this is significant due to the fact that most of the software products and problem-solving tools being developed within the present ongoing project will be usable within the proposed research.

 

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Last updated: February 24, 2003.